Today, 27 December, the council of A/s “Latvijas valsts meži” (LVM) at an extraordinary meeting appointed the existing LVM board member Arnis Melnis as the new chairman of the board, who has worked in the company's management since its establishment in 1999. The LVM council decided to appoint a new chairman of the board following the decision of the company's long-term head, Roberts Strīpnieks, to step down from the position effective 31 December of this year.

Arnis Melnis is an experienced forestry industry professional. Up until now, A. Melnis held the position of LVM board member and, while working in the company's management, also served as deputy chairman of the board and vice-president of LVM. A. Melnis began his career in the forestry sector in the early 80s, working first at the Ogre MRS (Forestry Industry Enterprise), and later at the Saldus MRS. From 1991 to 1997, A. Melnis was executive director of SIA “Silva", and later worked for two years as the state chief forest officer at the State Forest Service, before beginning his professional journey at LVM in 1999.